Senate approves bill shifting certain autopsy costs to county where crime occurred

Senate Bill 72, an act to revise the payer of autopsy costs in certain circumstances, passed the South Dakota Senate on a unanimous voice and roll-call vote after the Senate adopted amendment 72C.

Senator Hulse, who moved the amendment and spoke for the bill, said the measure was brought by county coroners concerned that local governments are bearing autopsy and morgue fees for deaths tied to crimes, overdoses or suicides. “No crime is a victimless crime and those costs shouldn't fall on our counties that are already strapped,” Senator Hulse said.

Amendment 72C altered the bill to make the county where the crime occurred responsible for the autopsy costs, rather than another locality, a change supporters called straightforward and clarifying. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote and the amended bill was put up for final passage.

On the final roll call the Senate recorded 35 yeas and 0 nays, and the President declared Senate Bill 72 passed.

Senators did not record additional fiscal or implementation instructions on the floor during final passage beyond the statutory language and the amendment’s clarification; county coroners and auditors were cited as the source of the concern that prompted the bill.